what treatment options are available for degenerative disc disease

Medication

These include:

• Exercising. Doing low-impact aerobics regularly can help you strengthen muscles and allow them to function better.
• Lifting objects properly. ...
• Stretching. ...
• Keeping your weight down.Keeping weight in a healthy range can help you avoid putting unnecessary pressure on your muscles, bones and joints.
• Eat a healthy diet. ...

Procedures

You will want to:

• Avoid isotonic exercise. ...
• Consider monitoring the intensity of your weightlifting routine. ...
• Consider wearing a belt for extra back support. ...
• Always work with a spotter. ...
• Consult with your doctor to make sure your style of weightlifting is safe to do.

Therapy

Tips for Preventing Degenerative Disc Disease

• Keys to Preventing Degenerative Disc Disease. ...
• Live an Active Life and Include Exercise. ...
• Use Good Form and Employ Body Mechanics. ...
• Stop Smoking or Better Yet, Don't Start. ...
• Get to and Maintain Your Ideal Weight. ...
• Balance Manual Labor and Being Sedentary. ...
• Take a Dietary Approach. ...
• Prevent DDD the Old Fashioned Way. ...

Self-care

One example of how treatment approaches may progress over time would be:

• Bed rest, or reduced activity, for the first 1 to 2 days after onset of severe pain, combined with anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen, and ice and/or heat therapy
• Prescription muscle relaxant medications, as needed, for up to 1 week
• Gentle stretching and aerobic exercise, for at least 3 times a week

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Nutrition

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What can help with degenerative disc disease?

What exercises should I avoid with degenerative disc disease?

How to keep degenerative disc disease from worsening?

How to lessen pain from a degenerated disc?

What is the most effective treatment for degenerative disc disease?

Physical therapy can help stretch and strengthen the right muscles to help the back heal and reduce the frequency of painful flare-ups. Lifestyle modifications, such as changing your posture, losing weight or giving up smoking, can sometimes help reduce stress on the damaged disc and slow down further degeneration.

What are treatment options for degenerative disc disease?

Treatment may include occupational therapy, physical therapy, or both, special exercises, medications, losing weight, and surgery. Medical options include injecting the joints next to the damaged disc with steroids and a local anesthetic. These are called facet joint injections. They can provide effective pain relief.

Are there any new treatments for degenerative disc disease?

These cushion the spine, maintain flexibility, and help absorb the pressure of movement. But the discs degenerate with age, and chronic back pain is common among older adults. There are currently no treatments to stop disc degeneration.

Is surgery the only option for degenerative disc disease?

Surgical treatment is an option in cases of severe, debilitating lumbar degenerative disc disease, and is usually only recommended after at least 6 months of nonsurgical treatment. Most cases of degenerative disc disease can be managed using nonsurgical methods, and do not require surgery for effective pain relief.

What happens if degenerative disc disease is left untreated?

Without appropriate treatment, degenerative disc disease can cause lasting, debilitating back pain. The pain may become so severe that you find it difficult to carry out your normal daily activities. It can interfere with your mobility and your overall quality of life.

What is the long term prognosis for degenerative disc disease?

Long-term Outcomes of Degenerative Disc Disease The degenerative process of the spinal disc may start gradually or suddenly, but progresses over 2 to 3 decades from severe and at times even disabling bouts of pain to a state in which the spine is restabilized and the pain is diminished.

Do cortisone shots work for degenerative disc disease?

Steroid injections can provide more effective pain relief when you have degenerative disc disease that does not respond well to other non-surgical forms of treatment.

Is walking good for degenerative disc disease?

Walking can help treat degenerative disc disease since it's a mild form of physical therapy, which is good for your spine and joints. The pain of degenerative disc disease could be in your lower back or the neck. It can extend to the hands, arms, legs, and butt.

Do spinal injections help degenerative disc disease?

Corticosteroids are powerful anti-inflammatory medications, which reduce inflammation around nerves and the spinal cord. An epidural injection is especially helpful if degenerative disc disease results in a herniated disc or if bone growths develop and press painfully on nerve roots or the spinal cord.

What are the stages of DDD?

The Four Stages of Degenerative Disc Disease They can result in pain, degenerative scoliosis, and loss of mobility. These four stages are the Dysfunction Stage, the Dehydration Stage, the Stabilization Stage, and the Collapsing Stage.

How can I prevent degenerative disc disease from getting worse?

Preventing Degenerative Disc DiseaseStop smoking, or better yet, don't start — smoking increases the rate of desiccation.Be active – regular exercise to increase the strength and flexibility of muscles that surround and support the spine.More items...

Does DDD get worse with age?

4. Will Discs Get Worse With Age? For a vast majority of degenerative disc disease sufferers, the condition will eventually resolve itself. For a select few, however, the condition will continue to get worse and lead to reduced range of motion throughout the aging process.

What is the best medicine for disc pain?

Non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen. Corticosteroid injection into the disc space. Prescription pain medication. Other alternative therapies like over-the-counter herbal pain creams that contain cayenne, peppermint, wintergreen, or eucalyptus may be useful for relieving pain.

What tests are needed to diagnose degenerative disc disease?

You may need some imaging tests like x-rays, magnetic resonance imaging ( MRI ), or computed tomography (CT) scan to see your spine and discs.

What are the symptoms of degenerative disc disease?

Degenerative disc disease symptoms include: Pain in the lower back, buttocks, neck, or thighs. Pain when sitting that gets worse with time. Pain that comes and goes. Numbness or tingling in extremities.

Why do discs hurt?

These discs act as shock absorbers to keep your spine flexible. With age, and sometimes with injury, these discs wear down and the bones begin to rub on each other and cause pain. Discs are made of about 80% water but, compared to other tissues in the body, the discs have very low blood supply.

What is the outer layer of the disc?

A tough, outer layer that contains nerves. A soft, inner layer that contains proteins. Discs are made of about 80% water but, compared to other tissues in the body, the discs have very low blood supply. If they are injured, they may not be able to repair themselves, which can lead to permanent damage.

What is the best way to relieve low back pain?

One of the best low back pain treatments is exercise. Learn more about low back pain exercises--what works, and what doesn't. Discover severe low back pain relief through various gentle workouts designed to protect and strengthen the lumbar, core, and other related muscle groups.

Does everyone have disc degeneration?

Most people have some amount of disc degeneration by the age of 60, but not everyone has pain. Wear and tear on bones and joints is a normal part of the aging process. Anyone who engages in sports or has an injury to their back may develop degenerative disc disease.

What is degenerative disc disease?

Degenerative disc disease is a condition where the wear and tear of your spinal discs (disc degeneration) is severe enough to cause problems like neck and back pain and other symptoms. So technically it’s not a disease, but rather degeneration that gets to a point that it causes symptoms.

Symptoms of degenerative disc disease

Your symptoms will depend on how bad the disc and bones are damaged, and if the nerves of the spine are affected. Symptoms may include:

How is degenerative disc disease diagnosed?

Pain or stiffness in your neck or back isn’t always caused by a disc issue. Muscle strain is another common cause of these symptoms. So the best way to figure out what’s causing your symptoms is to see your healthcare provider.

Treatment for degenerative disc disease

If you’ve been diagnosed with degenerative disc disease, treating your back and neck pain with medications is often the first place to start.

What can you do to lower your risk of developing degenerative disc disease?

While the wear and tear of spinal discs is inevitable with age, experiencing painful symptoms doesn’t have to be. By preventing additional stress on your spine you can also potentially decrease your chance of degenerative disc disease.

The bottom line

Wear and tear of our spinal discs occurs naturally. But when degenerative disease leads to conditions that cause pressure against your spinal nerves, you may develop symptoms like pain or tingling in your arms or legs. There are many different treatment options for degenerative disc disease.

What is Degenerative Disc Disease?

Contrary to what the name suggests, degenerative disc disease (DDD) is not a disease; instead, the name refers to the process of disc degeneration that can take place over time.

What are the Symptoms of Degenerative Disc Disease?

As mentioned, the most common spinal sections to experience significant disc degeneration and cause related pain are the cervical and lumbar sections, which is why degenerative disc disease is the most common cause of lower back and neck pain.

Degenerative Disc Disease Treatment Options

Here at the Scoliosis Reduction Center, I have experience treating patients of all ages, and with a wide range of spinal conditions, degenerative disc disease included.

Conclusion

When it comes to overall health and wellness, the spine is an important factor.

What is the best treatment for sciatica?

Physical Therapy and Activity Modification. Physical therapy is often suggested or prescribed to help maintain healthy mobility in the spine. A thorough low back exercise program should include a combination of: Exercises for Sciatica from Degenerative Disc Disease Video.

What is the best way to strengthen the spine?

Strengthening exercises that build lower back and abdominal muscles to maintain healthy postures and better support the spine. Strengthening exercise programs might include a customized physical therapy program, dynamic lumbar stabilization, tai chi, Pilates, or others.

How to help lower back pain?

Exercise and Physical Therapy 1 Stretching exercises for muscles in the low back, hips, and pelvis, as well as the hamstring muscles. Tightness in these muscles places more pressure on the lumbar spine and contributes to low back pain. 2 Strengthening exercises that build lower back and abdominal muscles to maintain healthy postures and better support the spine. Strengthening exercise programs might include a customized physical therapy program, dynamic lumbar stabilization, tai chi, Pilates, or others. 3 Low-impact aerobic exercise that elevates the heart rate to improve circulation and deliver nutrients and oxygen necessary for healing the body’s tissues. Examples of aerobics that are gentle on the spine include walking, swimming and water aerobics, stationary biking, and running on an elliptical.

What is the best pain reliever for nerve pain?

Aspirin (Bayer), ibuprofen (Advil), or naproxen (Aleve) are common pain medications that can relieve inflammation that contributes to discomfort, stiffness, and nerve root irritation. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is a pain reliever that interferes with pain signals sent to the brain.

What are some exercises to help lower back pain?

Tightness in these muscles places more pressure on the lumbar spine and contributes to low back pain. Strengthening exercises that build lower back and abdominal muscles to maintain healthy postures ...

How to reduce pain in lower back?

Applying heat to the low back improves circulation, which reduces muscle spasms and tension and improves mobility. Ice packs can reduce inflammation and numb mild pain. It can be helpful to apply heat before physical activities to relax the muscles, and to apply ice after activity to minimize inflammation.

How to prevent back pain from flaring up?

For example, wearing a back brace while lifting, or avoiding twisting while lifting, can prevent pain from flaring up due to overuse.

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How to keep discs healthy?

In addition, maintaining strong posture (instead of slouching while sitting or flexing the neck forward while driving, looking at a cell phone, etc) is recommended. Eating healthy, staying hydrated, and quitting smoking are also all beneficial for disc health. See Lifestyle and Diet Tips for Healthy Bones.

What are the symptoms of cervical degenerative disc disease?

Surgery to treat cervical degenerative disc disease is generally considered in two cases: Neurological symptoms are present, such as persistent arm numbness and/or weakness, or trouble with walking or bowel control.

What is the success rate of cervical discectomy?

For relieving pressure on nerve roots and/or the spinal cord and thus reducing neurological symptoms like arm pain or weakness, neck surgery tends to have a good success rate—some estimates in literature are between 80% and 90%. 1.

What is the best way to relieve neck pain?

Ice and/or heat therapy. Some people find pain relief by applying an ice pack or a heated gel pack to the uncomfortable part of the neck.

How to stop neck pain from computer?

Certain activities might be more painful for the neck, such as craning the neck forward to look at the computer monitor or a specific swimming stroke. Refraining from or modifying certain activities for a few days or weeks will usually reduce the pain.

Can a chiropractor adjust the cervical spine?

The cervical spine can be manually adjusted by a chiropractor or other qualified health professional in an effort to improve range of motion and/or reduce pain. Depending on the person’s symptoms, a physical exam and/or imaging study should be done prior to manual manipulation of the neck.